How to Deal with Fashion Envy

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When I heard about the $34,000 alligator backpack that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen created for their label The Row, my first thought was, Are they insane? A
few days later I clicked on a fashion news website only to read that the pricey bag had flown off the shelves. After that, I couldn't get that elusive backpack out of my mind. Who was the lucky girl who could afford such an indulgence? Suddenly, my standby designer purse—a birthday present, and a splurge by any means—had lost its luster.

What I soon realized was that my feelings were a classic case of fashion envy. Between reality-TV shows, glossy magazines, and style blogs, we are surrounded by jealousy-inducing images on a daily basis: a Kardashian sister toting one of her infamously many Hermès Birkin bags (which can be a cool $10,000 a pop), Blake Lively hitting the red carpet in a head-to-toe Chanel look, or Alexa Chung, with her namesake satchel, sitting front row at the Mulberry runway show. It's hard not to feel a pang of envy when you see young stars and their seemingly endless supply of designer goods. "I feel particularly jealous of celebrities my own age because I get the sense that I could be in their shoes," says Hannah, eighteen, from Rockville, Maryland.

Celebrities, however, are not the only ones prompting fashion envy. Trends spread swiftly on high school and college campuses as girls look to each other for style inspiration. "Just last month, I saw a senior girl at my school wearing a beautiful cream cashmere sweater over maroon skinny jeans," recalls
sixteen-year-old Kelsey from Oak Park, California. "Usually I don't go for colored denim, but when I saw her outfit, all I could think about was how to
replicate it. Jealousy over someone's style is even more contagious at school because you see the same people every day," she explains.

For Kelsey and her friends, personal-style blogs are yet another instigator of envy. "I often read blogs by other teenagers, and I get jealous when I see them posting an expensive new pair of boots or a recently purchased leather jacket," she says. Adds Lauren, fifteen, from Jericho, New York: "It bothers me that girls who don't seem to have a job other than blogging have closets stocked full
of Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang, and Céline.

Most of us don't have the funds to support that kind of wardrobe." After seeing these style blogs, Kelsey claims she is more motivated to amp up her wardrobe with extravagant purchases. "It's the competition that makes me want to shop," she says.

Despite their desire to keep up with the trends, many teens find that financial concerns hold them back. To pay for new clothes and accessories, some girls work multiple jobs and save up their earnings. Particularly appealing are positions at shops in the mall or stylish boutiques because of the discounts they often offer their employees. "Honestly, it's just not fair that celebrities can spend whatever they want," says Ashley, fourteen, from Westwood, Massachusetts. "I can't imagine shopping and never having to look at the price tag."

Celebrities may seem unconcerned with the cost of their outfits, but it has less to do with reckless spending than with the fact that many are not heading to the checkout counter in the first place. Recently, Hailee Steinfeld posted a picture to her Twitter account of a pair of high-heeled boots and an evening clutch that Miu Miu had sent to her as a gift. This freebie is far from unusual. In fact, the majority of clothing you see celebrities wearing is often loaned or gifted to them. Those gorgeous red carpet gowns? Samples borrowed from designer showrooms. That hot-off-the-runway, not-yet-in-stores handbag? A present from the fashion house.

Since Miu Miu probably isn't planning to begin a gifting campaign to the general public anytime soon (a girl can dream!), how can you keep up in today's world of fast fashion? "One word: sales," says Kelsey. "I rarely ever purchase anything full price because if you wait a couple of months, chances are that the same piece you were eyeing will be available at a more affordable price." Her other
secret weapon? Discount designer stores like Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, and theoutnet.com, where you can snag designer pieces for a fraction of their original cost.

If you can't wait for seasonal sales to pick up the latest runway looks, stores like Zara and Topshop offer high-fashion-inspired items without the frightening price tag. "I have seen plenty of people shopping at expensive stores who are much less stylish than people I know whose wardrobes consist exclusively of H&M pieces," says Juliette, eighteen, from Vancouver, Canada.

For eighteen-year-old Samisha, from Hong Kong, the best way to try new looks is to hunt through her mom's closet. "She's saved up some great things from the past that have come in handy," she says. "Seasons are like a cycle, so items that she wore two decades ago are trendy again!" Don't have a fashion-forward parent or sibling? Browse your local vintage or consignment shops. They often feature similarly unique treasures and can offer incredible deals.

Though it's always exciting to shop for new (or new-to-you) clothes, pairing your existing items in fresh ways can be all you need to do to create a completely original look. "My school doesn't have a uniform, and I don't like repeating outfits," says Houston native Lizzy, sixteen. "I spend a lot of time
challenging myself to create looks out of the clothes I already own." And actually, so does style star Alexa Chung. From a simple floral Topshop dress she
sported on several shopping excursions to her go-to Chanel bag that has seen its fair share of red carpets, her pieces are a testament to the value of investment
purchases. Not that they necessarily need to be ultra-expensive. It doesn't matter if it's a T-shirt from Target or a winter coat from Prada, wardrobe continuity is key so that regardless of the season, your pieces can be easily mixed and matched.

Whether you're vintage shopping, scouring discount websites, or reworking your previously worn clothes, style isn't about the volume of clothing in your closet but how you work with what you've got. Keep in mind that many celebrities have personal stylists and that fashion bloggers make it their job to have perfectly put-together outfits. You may never totally kick your fashion envy, but you can use it to your advantage. Christel, fourteen, from New York City, saves images of her favorite looks as inspiration for her own outfits. Whatever your fashion budget, she says, "in the end, it all comes down to your creativity and personal style."

Coveting a classmate's shoes? A celebrity's handbag? Victoria Lewis investigates the style jealousy affecting real girls and how they deal.

When I heard about the $34,000 alligator backpack that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen created for their label The Row, my first thought was, Are they insane? A
few days later I clicked on a fashion news website only to read that the pricey bag had flown off the shelves. After that, I couldn't get that elusive backpack out of my mind. Who was the lucky girl who could afford such an indulgence? Suddenly, my standby designer purse—a birthday present, and a splurge by any means—had lost its luster.

What I soon realized was that my feelings were a classic case of fashion envy. Between reality-TV shows, glossy magazines, and style blogs, we are surrounded by jealousy-inducing images on a daily basis: a Kardashian sister toting one of her infamously many Hermès Birkin bags (which can be a cool $10,000 a pop), Blake Lively hitting the red carpet in a head-to-toe Chanel look, or Alexa Chung, with her namesake satchel, sitting front row at the Mulberry runway show. It's hard not to feel a pang of envy when you see young stars and their seemingly endless supply of designer goods. "I feel particularly jealous of celebrities my own age because I get the sense that I could be in their shoes," says Hannah, eighteen, from Rockville, Maryland.

Celebrities, however, are not the only ones prompting fashion envy. Trends spread swiftly on high school and college campuses as girls look to each other for style inspiration. "Just last month, I saw a senior girl at my school wearing a beautiful cream cashmere sweater over maroon skinny jeans," recalls
sixteen-year-old Kelsey from Oak Park, California. "Usually I don't go for colored denim, but when I saw her outfit, all I could think about was how to
replicate it. Jealousy over someone's style is even more contagious at school because you see the same people every day," she explains.

For Kelsey and her friends, personal-style blogs are yet another instigator of envy. "I often read blogs by other teenagers, and I get jealous when I see them posting an expensive new pair of boots or a recently purchased leather jacket," she says. Adds Lauren, fifteen, from Jericho, New York: "It bothers me that girls who don't seem to have a job other than blogging have closets stocked full
of Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang, and Céline.

Most of us don't have the funds to support that kind of wardrobe." After seeing these style blogs, Kelsey claims she is more motivated to amp up her wardrobe with extravagant purchases. "It's the competition that makes me want to shop," she says.

Despite their desire to keep up with the trends, many teens find that financial concerns hold them back. To pay for new clothes and accessories, some girls work multiple jobs and save up their earnings. Particularly appealing are positions at shops in the mall or stylish boutiques because of the discounts they often offer their employees. "Honestly, it's just not fair that celebrities can spend whatever they want," says Ashley, fourteen, from Westwood, Massachusetts. "I can't imagine shopping and never having to look at the price tag."

Celebrities may seem unconcerned with the cost of their outfits, but it has less to do with reckless spending than with the fact that many are not heading to the checkout counter in the first place. Recently, Hailee Steinfeld posted a picture to her Twitter account of a pair of high-heeled boots and an evening clutch that Miu Miu had sent to her as a gift. This freebie is far from unusual. In fact, the majority of clothing you see celebrities wearing is often loaned or gifted to them. Those gorgeous red carpet gowns? Samples borrowed from designer showrooms. That hot-off-the-runway, not-yet-in-stores handbag? A present from the fashion house.

Since Miu Miu probably isn't planning to begin a gifting campaign to the general public anytime soon (a girl can dream!), how can you keep up in today's world of fast fashion? "One word: sales," says Kelsey. "I rarely ever purchase anything full price because if you wait a couple of months, chances are that the same piece you were eyeing will be available at a more affordable price." Her other
secret weapon? Discount designer stores like Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, and theoutnet.com, where you can snag designer pieces for a fraction of their original cost.

If you can't wait for seasonal sales to pick up the latest runway looks, stores like Zara and Topshop offer high-fashion-inspired items without the frightening price tag. "I have seen plenty of people shopping at expensive stores who are much less stylish than people I know whose wardrobes consist exclusively of H&M pieces," says Juliette, eighteen, from Vancouver, Canada.

For eighteen-year-old Samisha, from Hong Kong, the best way to try new looks is to hunt through her mom's closet. "She's saved up some great things from the past that have come in handy," she says. "Seasons are like a cycle, so items that she wore two decades ago are trendy again!" Don't have a fashion-forward parent or sibling? Browse your local vintage or consignment shops. They often feature similarly unique treasures and can offer incredible deals.

Though it's always exciting to shop for new (or new-to-you) clothes, pairing your existing items in fresh ways can be all you need to do to create a completely original look. "My school doesn't have a uniform, and I don't like repeating outfits," says Houston native Lizzy, sixteen. "I spend a lot of time
challenging myself to create looks out of the clothes I already own." And actually, so does style star Alexa Chung. From a simple floral Topshop dress she
sported on several shopping excursions to her go-to Chanel bag that has seen its fair share of red carpets, her pieces are a testament to the value of investment
purchases. Not that they necessarily need to be ultra-expensive. It doesn't matter if it's a T-shirt from Target or a winter coat from Prada, wardrobe continuity is key so that regardless of the season, your pieces can be easily mixed and matched.

Whether you're vintage shopping, scouring discount websites, or reworking your previously worn clothes, style isn't about the volume of clothing in your closet but how you work with what you've got. Keep in mind that many celebrities have personal stylists and that fashion bloggers make it their job to have perfectly put-together outfits. You may never totally kick your fashion envy, but you can use it to your advantage. Christel, fourteen, from New York City, saves images of her favorite looks as inspiration for her own outfits. Whatever your fashion budget, she says, "in the end, it all comes down to your creativity and personal style."

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Coveting a classmate's shoes? A celebrity's handbag? Victoria Lewis investigates the style jealousy affecting real girls and how they deal.